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Whether you use your garage for storage, a workshop or just to park your car, applying an epoxy coating to the floor can transform the appearance of your garage while adding a layer of protection to the concrete. Before installing a concrete coating, however, the surface must be properly prepared in order to ensure adequate adhesion. Acid etching is the method that is used to provide the proper surface for coating applications.

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Clean the floor before beginning the etching process. Etching solutions do not clean the concrete. They are used to abrade the surface. Sweep the floor to remove all debris and dust. Use a small stiff brush or paintbrush to get into the corners where dust can accumulate. Remove oils from the concrete with a degreasing solution.

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Add the etching solution to water in a plastic container following the manufacturer's directions. Using a watering can will allow you to pour the solution onto the floor in a uniform manner. Use a container made from an acid-resistant material such as polyethylene.

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Wet the entire floor using a garden hose with a sprayer. The surface should be wet but with no standing water.

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Apply a small amount of the etching solution to a test area to determine if you have the proper strength. It should bubble vigorously. If not, add more acid.

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Pour the acid solution over small areas of the floor at a time. Scrub the space with a stiff-bristled broom in a back-and-forth direction. Then repeat by scrubbing the same area going from side to side. Rinse and squeegee each area as you go.

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Scrub small areas at a time until you have etched the entire garage floor. The concrete should have a roughened appearance and feel like coarse sandpaper, which will allow coating to adhere properly.

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Rinse the entire floor with a garden hose. Continue rinsing until the water runs clear.

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Allow the floor to dry for at least four hours before applying a coating to your garage floor.

Things You Will Need

Rubber boots

Protective gloves

Safety glasses

Broom

Small brush

Degreaser (optional)

Watering can (polyethylene)

Acid etching product

Stiff-bristled broom

Long-handled squeegee

Tip

Keep surrounding areas wet during the etching process to prevent damage from the acid. The acid will damage aluminum and painted metal surfaces.

Warning

Check with the wastewater management agency in your community to see if there are restrictions on disposal of acid solutions in the drainage system in your locale. Muriatic (hydrochloric) acid is typically used for concrete etching. Eco-friendly products are available as well, which are biodegradable and easier to dispose of in most communities.

About the Author

Michele Norfleet is a freelance writer who writes on travel, home and garden and education topics. She has coauthored a handbook for teachers on school-wide discipline and has contributed tips for special-needs students in the basal curriculum for RCL Benziger. Norfleet holds a master's degree from Southern Illinois University and has experience as a special-needs teacher and speech pathologist.